By Jeff Long | Season AS2 | Episode 12 | Aired on 2013.01.17
So, it's down to Uli, Emilio and Anthony Ryan. Anthony Ryan is feeling intimidated by the experience of the other two. Carolyn tells them that their final challenge is to create a mini collection for a runway show. They will only have four days to complete it! They have free reign with their theme and music for the show as well as the number of pieces that they will show. Their budget will be $3000. They get a night to think about everything before they begin.
Uli's theme is going to be "Winter Wonderland." So, lots of white and ivory. Emilio's theme will be "Urban Plantation." That's a little incendiary for the name of a fashion show. It's going to be about working women, because he feels that the fashion world doesn't spend enough time thinking about them. Anthony Ryan decides that his theme will be "The Thin Line."
At Mood, they all try really hard not to freak out. This is a really important shopping trip. Emilio goes with red, white and blue -- a lot of which is represented in prints. Scary. Once they start working, Carolyn visits them in the workroom. She has brought help! All of the eliminated designers return and they each get to choose a helper. Anthony Ryan chooses Joshua, but he declines! Poor guy, he's just too upset. He tells Anthony Ryan that he loves him, but he's just too tired right now. That could be the legitimate truth as well, but it seems pretty lousy. So, he chooses Kayne of Many Colors instead. Uli chooses Casanova (I kinda pegged that). Emilio chooses Althea because she had made it all the way to the finals of her season.
Casanova is really surprised that Uli doesn't make patterns for her clothes. I don't think I knew that either! Althea seems psyched by Emilio's theme. Things get sticky early on though. Casanova takes a lot of breaks and it makes Uli really nervous. Kayne of Many Colors is a star for Anthony Ryan. Althea is very helpful to Emilio and Casanova really improves for work on the second day.
After that, they are alone again. Everyone gives their reasons for how badly they need to win the prize. Anthony Ryan says that he will probably quit designing if he doesn't win because he doesn't have the resources to continue. That makes me sad.
The show is at Gotham Hall and it looks gorgeous. Better than Lincoln Center, really. Elie Tahari is at the show! So is Cynthia Rowley! Carolyn looks AMAZING when she presents the lines. The guest judges are Liv Tyler and model/actress Margherita Missoni. Emilio is first. The show begins with someone drumming on a bucket behind a scrim, which is very cool. All of his girls wear a red bow in their hair. It's really cool. His looks are all structured, colorful and accessible. Damn, he shows like eight looks or something. It's big.
Anthony Ryan is . He looks really cute in blue. His line is very graphic and color-blocky. It's all very pretty and he gets a big round of applause. Uli is last. She changed the name to "Mystical Winter" which was probably smart. Her girls have super cool plastic-like make-up on. Her collection is surreal and beautiful and comfortable all at nice. Lots of feathers and white and silver. My first instinct is that she HAS to win.
This seems like a really hard choice though. The judges talk with each designer separately. Georgina says that Emilio's show made her emotional. She loved his point-of-view. Isaac found the collection political, because all of them models were women of color. They all do think his work can get a little junior though.
Anthony Ryan comes out with his girls and Georgina tells him that it's spectacular. His first black and blue dress Isaac thinks is the best dress he has ever seen on Project Runway. They are not a fan of his final look though.
Now, it's Uli's turn. Isaac tells her that it's great. Georgina is astonished that she did something so concise in such a short time. Margherita loves the hair and make-up. Liv, who still sounds like a little girl, loves her long dress and thinks it would be right for the Oscars. Georgina thinks that some of the faux fur looks a little cheap.
The judges confer. They seem to like all of them. Georgina seems to be rooting for Uli. Isaac sounds like he wants Emilio. Margherita likes Anthony Ryan. So, I guess the new season of Project Runway is starting week? And, they are on teams. OH God.
Everybody comes back. Second runner-up is Uli. Wrong again. She should have won when she was on the show the first time. She's completely gracious about it though. So, it's down to Emilio and Anthony Ryan. I have no idea. It's... Anthony Ryan! He's very emotional about it. Emilio interviews that he thinks he had the strongest collection but he is pleased with everything that has happened. Well, he really needed that prize, so I'm happy for Anthony Ryan. Joanna comes out to congratulate him. Then, all of the other designers join them on the runway. He interviews that this has given him a second chance. He feels like he found the best of himself on the show. Yay for him!